Welcome to the website of Peter Giblin, Notary Public

I offer Notary services to clients in the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells areas and also along the A21 to Hastings, primarily from my office in Wadhurst. I also offer these services from my office in Orpington on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and can visit clients in the Petts Wood, Chislehurst and Bromley areas on those days, too. www.cwj.co.uk

Appointments are available at either of my offices or at your home or office at a time to suit you. Saturday appointments are also available from my Wadhurst office.

For a quotation or to make an appointment please visit the contact page.

What does a Notary Public do?

A Notary Public notarises documents for use all over the world. The documents have to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public who is appointed by the Court or by Royal Authority. The Notary has to be satisfied that the person signing has been correctly identified and that he or she understands the nature of the document and the legal implications of it. The Notary will witness the signatures and affix their own signature and Seal of Office.

The need for a Notary Public is dictated by the requirements of the country where the document is to be used. For example, if you wish to buy a property abroad, it is often necessary to give your overseas lawyer power to deal with the purchase. This can be done by means of a power of attorney, which is signed by you in front of a Notary. The Notary Public will confirm your name and identity and sign the document and seal it with their official seal.

The Notary's duty is to the document itself and persons relying upon its authenticity.

What is an Apostille or Legalisation?

A notarised document may often need to be further authenticated by having the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirm the validity of the Notary's signature and seal. The requirement for this will depend on the foreign country involved. This is done by legalisation by the use of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's official certificate attached to the document, known as an apostille. These are internationally recognised under the Hague Convention.

Identification required when seeing a Notary Public

To comply with money laundering regulations a Notary must confirm your identity. When attending an appointment with a Notary each person signing the document must provide at least one of the following:

Driving licence with photo ID card

A valid passport

National identity card (only for EEA state members)

Armed forces pass (with photo and signature)

Firearms licence (with photo and signature)

Any other official government issue ID card (with photo and signature)

Notarisation of Qualifications

Large numbers of certificates are often required to be notarised when applying for jobs or any positions abroad. I can have these notarised quickly and efficiently upon the production of the originals. If originals are not available please call me to see if there is an alternative.